Long Table Pancakes are The BEST Pancakes Kevin Has Ever Had! | Shark Tank US | Shark Tank Global

Summary

In this Shark Tank pitch, Samuel Taylor presents his business, Longtable, which offers healthy pancake mixes made from popcorn flour. Inspired by his wife, Lindsay, an acrobat, Samuel created a nutritious yet light pancake flour. Celebrity guest David Schwimmer, a close friend, endorses the product as the best he's ever had. While the Sharks enjoy the pancakes, they express concerns about the slow growth and lack of social media presence. Despite not receiving an investment, Samuel receives valuable advice about storytelling and promoting his product.

Takeaways

• 🥞 Samuel Taylor introduced a healthier version of pancakes using popcorn flour.
• 💑 Samuel created the product to impress his acrobat wife, Lindsay, with a nutritious yet light pancake.
• 🌽 Popcorn flour is an innovative twist on heirloom whole grains, offering a fluffier and lighter texture.
• 🏡 The product is marketed as a farm-to-table, clean label pancake mix, sourced from organic and regenerative farms.
• 👨‍🍳 Samuel's friend, actor David Schwimmer, appeared as a guest to support the product and highlight its quality.
• 📦 The business has made $4 million in sales, with 70% of the sales being direct to consumer through their website.
• 🚶‍♂️ Samuel's brand has struggled with slow growth, and he's only in about 20 independent grocers, mostly in Chicago.
• 📉 Some Sharks were hesitant due to the slow growth and small scale of the business, with critiques about Samuel's lack of social media presence.
• 👍 Several Sharks praised the taste and quality of the product, with one Shark claiming it was the best pancake they'd ever had.
• 📢 The Sharks emphasized the need for Samuel to leverage storytelling and social media to expand his brand's reach and grow sales.

Q & A

What product is Samuel Taylor pitching to the Sharks?

Samuel Taylor is pitching a pancake and waffle mix made from a new kind of flour he invented, called popcorn flour, which is lighter and fluffier than traditional whole grain flours.

What was Samuel Taylor's motivation to create popcorn flour?

Samuel Taylor created popcorn flour to impress his acrobat wife with a pancake that was nutritious enough for her performances but light and fluffy enough to feel like it was floating.

What is the company Samuel Taylor founded, and where is it based?

Samuel Taylor founded a company called Longtable, which is based in Chicago.

What is Samuel Taylor asking for in exchange for 15% of his company?

Samuel Taylor is asking for $140,000 in exchange for 15% of his company.

How did David Schwimmer get involved in the pitch?

David Schwimmer, a friend of Samuel Taylor, came on Shark Tank to support him. Schwimmer makes the waffles for his daughter every weekend and encouraged Samuel to apply for the show.

What are the key ingredients in Samuel's pancake mixes?

The pancake mixes use heirloom grains sourced directly from organic and regenerative farmers, with popcorn flour being the main innovation.

What was Lori Greiner’s reaction to the product?

Lori Greiner admitted she’s not a fan of pancakes but found Samuel’s blue corn pancake to be the best she’s ever had. However, she declined to invest because it’s not a category she’s passionate about.

What was Mark Cuban’s critique of the business?

Mark Cuban expressed concern that the mission behind the company (supporting regenerative agriculture) was overshadowing the product itself, making the mission more important than the business growth.

Why did Kevin O'Leary see potential in the business?

Kevin O'Leary believed the product was on trend with the increasing demand for healthier foods in America and thought it could succeed with better social media marketing.

What advice did the Sharks collectively offer Samuel?

The Sharks advised Samuel to focus on improving his social media presence and storytelling to increase his sales, as they all saw potential in the product but felt that marketing needed improvement.